[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-10":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310395,4514,"Chapter 10: Crafting the Bronze Cannon","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-10",10,"\u003Cp>Xu Yuan had already run more than ten li when he was mysteriously dragged back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Maiden beamed triumphantly: “You killed one of ours and think you can run? Not so easy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon’s muzzle swung around, locking onto Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask, you answer. Lie even once, and I’ll reduce you to dust.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan still said nothing; the Holy Maiden had already begun her interrogation—the boy was already meat on the chopping block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the Six-Month Worm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan scanned his surroundings: Accountant Liu was bound in iron chains, head hung low, clearly beyond help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, every soul was the enemy’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This altar—thankfully, it was only an altar, with no other restrictions to trap him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the boy still feigning deafness and dumbness, the Holy Maiden laughed in fury: “You think I’m afraid to kill you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze cannon atop the sedan chair blazed with crimson light! Kill this boy, and the maid’s soul could be bound and forged into a yin soldier—then she’d answer any question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong and the others turned pale, scrambling back several zhang away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This type of artisan-crafted bronze cannon could fire multiple kinds of shells: explosive and solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, a solid shell would be used against a single target—but if an explosive shell had been loaded, they’d be caught in the blast if they got too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan spun around and dashed into Old Qiao’s study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he moved, the artisan-crafted cannon rotated its barrel, automatically tracking its target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan ignored it entirely, slipped into the study, twisted through corridors, and slipped out through a small gate in the side courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the inn’s staff knew about this gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson glow of the bronze cannon grew brighter, yet the shell never fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon’s body swelled outward—someone suddenly shouted: “No! It’s going to burst!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Maiden sensed something was wrong; with a crash, she leapt from the shattered rear of the sedan chair and flew toward the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong and the others were terrified—some leapt over walls, others dashed through gates, all fleeing the courtyard at top speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accountant Liu, bound in chains, stared wide-eyed and struggled to jump…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artisan-crafted bronze cannon exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The side courtyard was ravaged as if by a storm—bamboo, plum blossoms, and flowers shattered instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rock formations were blasted into the air; seven or eight pieces flew over ten zhang, crashing onto the street beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard wall collapsed in neat sections; the study’s front doors and windows shattered, the walls riddled with holes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sedan chair split apart; a half-man-deep crater appeared on the ground!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accountant Liu was hurled through the air—a large shard of cannon barrel, shaped like a tile, pinned him to an intact wall, his eyes bulging, lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the courtyard, the Holy Maiden’s hair was speckled with wood splinters—how could she ever have looked so ragged?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her rage boiled over: “Chase him! I want him dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong and the others surged forward like wild beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did this brat tamper with it?!” the Holy Maiden snarled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid bowed her head behind her, guessing it had been last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could this boy possibly tamper with an artisan-crafted object?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he truly ate the Six-Month Worm, he’s still a life cultivator—different paths are like different mountains. He shouldn’t even understand how artisan-crafted objects work, let alone tamper with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan had only been hiding inside the sedan chair, never intending to interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing the yin soldier’s master in the front courtyard, he’d acted on caution and made a few “modifications” to the sedan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he worked, Xu Yuan realized the artisan who built this sedan was far inferior to his stepmother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stepmother had drilled him daily; though not an artisan himself, Xu Yuan understood their craft intimately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks flashy, but it’s nothing special—just a silk pillow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So tampering was easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan hadn’t heard the Holy Maiden threaten Accountant Liu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could anything bought by the Northern Capital Divine Mechanism Camp really be shoddy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong and his men knew the town well; Xu Yuan hadn’t run far before they caught up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan weaved through alleys, but couldn’t shake them off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong was anxious too—if he didn’t capture Xu Yuan quickly after the Holy Maiden’s humiliation, he’d surely be blamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied Xu Yuan’s path, leapt onto a wall, then onto the roof beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Xiu were exceptionally agile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sprinted across the rooftops, leapt over two courtyards, then soared like a great roc, landing precisely before Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a narrow alley; two others chased from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong stood, radiating authority: “You won’t escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan saw Zhao Yong blocking his path—but didn’t slow. Zhao Yong sneered, shook his sleeves, which shattered with a snap; both arms had swollen thicker than Xu Yuan’s thighs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan suddenly opened his mouth: PUFF!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pill glowed silver and gold, hurtling toward Zhao Yong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yong was startled: “A pill cultivator?” Then he sneered: “Pathetic skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward, reached out his palm to intercept the pill, and exhaled sharply: “Hah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pill, capable of snapping a tree as thick as a bowl, was caught in his hand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pill spun rapidly in his grip; Zhao Yong clenched hard, producing a screeching friction, white smoke rising from his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Zhao Yong opened his hand—the pill now rested motionless in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clear palm prints marked its surface!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Accept your fate,” Zhao Yong said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he saw Xu Yuan’s lips curl into a strange smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan had already rushed to his front; Zhao Yong reached out—certain of success. He’d already decided: once caught, he’d crush the boy’s collarbones first, teach him a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But halfway through the grab, his arm went limp—he suddenly felt his life force draining rapidly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan dashed past Zhao Yong, brushing against his arm; Zhao Yong collapsed with a crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shang Fa… the price of a life…” Zhao Yong gasped his last breath, understanding at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men chasing behind Xu Yuan were stunned; they rushed to Zhao Yong’s corpse, shaking him, calling out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why chase anymore? Their master was dead—catching Xu Yuan now meant certain death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, a scene of loyal servant grief unfolded in the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan moved like a swift, agile leopard, weaving through streets and alleys, bursting out of town, and dashing into Ghost Witch Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the Holy Maiden’s group arrived, Xu Yuan was long gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Maiden’s face turned ashen; the maid, steeling herself, examined Zhao Yong’s corpse, retrieved the pill, and presented it: “Price of a Life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably taken from Huang Wanliang, refined using his pill cultivator methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Yong was careless—he fell for the trick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Maiden pinched the pill—it flattened like dough: “Pathetic skill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men from Zhao’s Fur Shop stared in shock—if the boy was only this level, they should’ve chased him down, died for the Holy Maiden, avenged their master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Maiden cursed inwardly: A fool, and a pack of cowards!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cold gaze swept over them; she’d already marked them as “bait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu Haishan!” the Holy Maiden called out: “You’re a pill cultivator too—can you catch him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1214,"2026-06-20T12:07:23.516Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6dbc5f0c303cf722e0fcba8dadf2ea56fd7fb7c9e04af98b98208ba65aa4adbe","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-11","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-9",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]